Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71256 (Lillie, LA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, El Dorado S Ar Rgnl AP, AR (20 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)230 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monroe 26 N (34 mi).
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monroe 26 N (34 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 71256 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 9 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 7: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 24 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 24 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 5 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 9 | Nov 20 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 71256
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 7). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 3–24 (transplant) Feb 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 24 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 17–Mar 31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 31–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 10–24 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Louisiana has a university or garden plant program: Louisiana Super Plants. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 24 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: El Dorado S Ar Rgnl AP, AR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093992), elevation 252 ft, 19.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmerville, LA | 21 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 16 |
| Homer 1N, LA | 23 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 6 |
| Calion L&d, AR | 28 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71256
When is the last frost in 71256?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71256 is March 24. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71256?
The average first fall freeze is November 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 24.
What hardiness zone is 71256?
ZIP 71256 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 71256 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
71079 71222 Bernice 71277 Spearsville 71749 Junction City 71048 Lisbon 71235 Vienna 71730 El Dorado 71040 Lisbon
Other ZIP codes in Union Parish
71222 71234 71241 71260 71277 71280 All Union Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.